Core material?

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48dodge

48dodge

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Oct 10, 2006
492
Oday 222 Mt. Pleasant, SC
I was thinking the core of my 222 was all balsa, but I'm beginning to think some must be plywood. I started the process of filling all the holes by drilling them out oversized so I can fill them with thickened epoxy. I stuck a bent nail in the chuck of my drill and tried to pulverize the core. As soon as the nail touched the core, it snapped. Tried and allen wrench and it bent and twisted. I think the core is fine there. hehe. Are there different cores on the boat? On the cabin top, I know it's balsa since I've removed some of that and I can see the rest through the fiberglass from underneath.
 
appleman

appleman

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Oct 21, 2005
205
Oday 26 Indian Cove, Guilford, CT LIS
On my 26 there is plywood under the mast step

It's about 8X8"
 
Joe11688

Joe11688

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Jan 24, 2005
4,881
Oday 222 Dighton, Ma.
Plywood

I found plywood on my bulkhead when I drilled a 4" hole for my compass. A lot my boat is plywood under the glass. Joe
 
48dodge

48dodge

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Oct 10, 2006
492
Oday 222 Mt. Pleasant, SC
Compass

That's where I found balsa (cockpit bulkhead). I think the cabin top may actually be plywood. I don't remember the tell tale squares in the top now that I think back. I'll have to check again.
 
RobG

RobG

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Jun 2, 2004
337
Ericson 28 Noank, Ct
My 222 has

Balsa everywhere I know of except around the chainplates where plywood was used for extra strength. The literature says the same thing. Only half of the transom is cored but I'd guess that would be plywood too.
 
J

JoshGray

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Nov 20, 2006
109
- - Chapel Hill, NC
My 22

Balsa everywhere that I opened up except under the table fitting in the cabin. Weird huh? Underneath the mast step I am not entirely sure. I didn't open it up completely, but seems like a good place for it. I'm no expert, but I think that properly installed balsa would have similar compressive strength as a piece of marine ply, the difference would be in the lateral strength... no? Also, I've succeeded in breaking allen wrenches and bent nails in balsa, so don't rule that out! Once that stuff is saturated with resin (especially in the scores) it becomes really tough! Good luck, there's lots of pics on my blog of deck repair, glass layup, etc. I've made every mistake imaginable, so contact me and maybe I can help you to avoid some of them! Cheers
 
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